Alternatives & Comparison

In this section, we will explore what inspired Confit and how it compares to other alternative Python packages.

Confection

Confection (originally part of the Thinc library) is another configuration framework from which Confit takes most of its inspiration. Both Confit and Confection support loading and exporting configuration data from/to strings or config files, as well as basic interpolation and custom class instantiation from a registry.

However, Confit takes it a step further by allowing arbitrary expression evaluation, post-resolution interpolation, and exporting features such as saving to strings or config files, serialization of JSON-like objects, custom classes, and reference serialization.

Confit also adds support for command-line interfaces by either passing a config file as an argument or by passing arguments (or overrides) directly to the CLI, while benefiting from argument validation and type casting.

Gin-config

Gin Config is a flexible configuration system built for machine learning research. Like Confit and Confection, gin-config supports basic interpolation and custom class instantiation and offers CLI support. However, it does not provide exporting configuration objects functionalities like Confit does or parameter validation.

Typer

Typer is a CLI library that focuses on providing easy-to-use functionalities for building command-line interface. While Typer offers excellent CLI support and basic argument validation, it does not have configuration file-related features such as loading, exporting, or parameter validation like Confit does. Confit relies on Typer for its CLI support, but adds config file arguments and instantiating classes from a registry, both of which are not available in Typer.

However, if your primary focus is on building a robust CLI, Typer is a strong alternative.

Pydantic-CLI

Pydantic-CLI is another CLI library that combines Pydantic and argparse for creating command-line interfaces. Pydantic-CLI provides CLI support and argument validation, similar to Typer. However, it does not have any configuration file-related features like Confit does, nor does it allow instantiating custom classes.

Tabular comparison

Loading

Feature	Typer	Pydantic-cli
Load from str/config file
Basic interpolation	NA	NA
Arbitrary expression eval	NA	NA
Post-resolution interpolation	NA	NA
Custom class instantiation	NA	NA

Exporting

Feature	Gin	Typer	Pydantic-cli
Save to str/config file
Serialization of JSON-like obj	NA	NA	NA
Serialization of custom classes	NA	NA	NA
Reference serialization	NA	NA	NA

CLI

Feature	Confit	Confection	Gin	Typer	Pydantic-cli
CLI support
CLI short-hands		NA
Argument validation		NA
Config file argument		NA

Parameter validation

Feature	Confit	Confection	Gin	Typer	Pydantic-cli
Parameter validation support
Auto casting			NA
From a Python func/class call			NA